In October 2024 I had the distinct pleasure of flying down to the Dominican Republic to visit La Aurora and tour both the city of Santiago de los Caballeros and the cigar manufacturer’s factory and tobacco fields. It was one of the more formative experiences of my life. I put together a long series leading up to and during the trip.
If you have the chance to visit I highly recommend it. Even though you might not fly there, it’s possible to visit if you take a cruise or another trip.
It was all part of the La Aurora Cigar Institute. A new experience along the lines of a Master Class for cigar enthusiasts. You get to experience the journey from seed to ash, witnessing how tobacco plants are grown, cultivated, and eventually used. More importantly, you get a firsthand look at how cigars are made.
You’ll find all three parts of the series listed below. They have been published separately. But I’ve also included them here as a sort of directory. Enjoy!
Part I explores the initial delays because of Hurricane Milton and the change in the trip itinerary.
Part II covers the bulk of the trip while touring the La Aurora factory in the RD, the tobacco fields, and the regular operations.
Part III explores the rest of the trip, mostly outlier experiences like touring Santiago in the Dominican Republic and the many landmarks we visited.
Briley has over 16 years in the publishing and content marketing business. He's been writing about cigars for nearly half that in various forms. What makes him a tour de force is he also smokes them.
